Panic gripped parts of Mbita after fishermen pulled a box containing live bombs from the waters of Lake Victoria.
The first incident occurred on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Litare Beach in the Mbita area. A group of fishermen had cast their nets expecting a large catch. Instead, they retrieved a suspicious box. When they opened it, they discovered 20 live bombs and ammunition inside.
The fishermen immediately alerted authorities and moved the box to the lakeshore. Police officers arrived at the scene and took custody of the explosives. Officers described the devices as highly dangerous and warned residents against handling such items.
A day later, on March 2, another alarming discovery occurred at Koguna Beach. A different group of fishermen found 14 additional bombs while carrying out routine fishing activities. Police confirmed that the devices were propellant-type explosives and included bullets.
Authorities transferred the explosives to Mbita Sub-County Police Headquarters. The Bomb Disposal and Hazardous Materials unit from Kisumu is expected to handle their destruction. Security officers have not yet explained how the bombs ended up in the lake.
The repeated discoveries have raised concern among local fishermen and residents. Similar incidents occurred in previous years. In 2021, fishermen recovered explosives from the same waters. In 2019, authorities found explosives believed to date back to the colonial era hidden in a rusty wooden box inside the lake.
Officials say such discoveries are not uncommon in Lake Victoria. Police have since launched a sensitisation campaign to educate residents on how to identify explosives and report them safely. Officers continue to urge fishermen to avoid touching suspicious objects and to inform authorities immediately.
The bomb disposal unit typically destroys recovered explosives at secure locations to eliminate danger to the public.
